Did Indira Gandhi Help Shape ‘Anti-Pakistan’ Narrative?

103 years ago to the day, Indira Gandhi was born (19 November 1917). And 36 years ago, on 31 October, when Indira Gandhi was shot dead, we were stunned and genuinely sad. She seemed imperishable. 

She had mastered the art of playing both ‘victim’ and ‘rescuer’ – post-Emergency, after her son Sanjay’s death, even after death as her spirit hovered around when her politically-disinclined son was pulled out to save India. 

As I look back at the three major unfortunate events she was responsible for, we can see how her actions shaped post-Partition politics and that continue to echo today in more insidious forms. 

Read the full article in The Quint

The Times...it isn't a-changin'...

Like most things in life, The Times of India has been a habit. It is easy to break, but I never felt the need to give it the 'kick'. There was a time, not too long ago, when it made one sound above it all to state that you read the paper because of R.K. Laxman's cartoons. It was a bit like some insisting they read Playboy for the articles.

TOI has completed 175 years. It talks about being young at heart. It has provided me enough boo-boos to pick on; it has educated me about society divas I did not know existed; it has reduced the sanctity of the masthead and of its front page by selling it to advertisers. The only thing that can be said is that it is upfront about it.

Going through today's edition from the archives I found some gems I'd like to share with some observations:

 

This was the front page on what was undoubtedly the most significant event after Partition. TOI even then loved showing off about being on top of the heap - just above the masthead. However, instead of its now cautious "allegedly", it mentioned in clear words that the assassin was a Maratha from Poona. It also gave Jinnah's words importance. But I doubt if it would really bother today if Czechoslovakia (new name notwithstanding) expressed regret.

I know there are many naysayers, but had India and Pakistan not continued to be so obsessed with each other as problems, outside forces would have just had to lay off. I find Jinnah's statement pragmatic.

The Emergency has only been spoken of as "the dark chapter" in India's history, mainly because of its clampdown on newspapers. If we think about it without 'freedom of speech' in mind, then just how many literate Indians were there that constituted the reading public affected by it? And Indira Gandhi was right in at least one fact - that India is one of the most relaxed in terms of freedom of expression. Of course, I do not condone the Emergency, but from this quote we can see that 'objectivity' is still not evident in the newspapers and now the electronic media. Reportage continues to tilt and have agendas.

TOI has started one more of its weird 'innovative' ways to separate news from opinion. All op-ed pieces have started to use the first person in small letters. It is not 'I', but 'i'.

i'm not not sure whether it is to convey that the writing is more important than the writer. That won't happen. The mugshot, the byline and bottomline (where you find new professions and of course "bestselling authors") remove all doubt that self-effacement is not in sight. 

Yet, as i said, the TOI tries to amuse whenever it can. Aren't we amused?

Indira Gandhi Booked

The history of the Congress party being written by a group of people from within the fold is like the skin covering the flesh. But, as expected it has got politicians to react.

This is supposed to be some sort of commemorative effort because of the completion of the party’s 125 years.

The Congress’s history, written by a group of experts, has blamed Indira Gandhi’s policies for the party’s collapse in the Hindi heartland, including its stronghold of Uttar Pradesh, triggering surprise among leaders about the growing tolerance in the party over an alternate viewpoint.

Rubbish. This is not an alternative viewpoint but passing the buck. It is edited by Pranab Mukherjee, who is an acolyte of Manmohan Singh, who in turn is an obedient student of Sonia Gandhi, who in turn has to think of Rahul Gandhi, who in turn has failed to do much in UP, which in turn is the big trophy for any political party and had the whole thali of vote banks – Muslim, Brahmin, Dalit, farmer, zamindar, gun culture, culture and some of the most power-hungry people ever in this country sitting in positions of office.

I doubt if all those who are barfing now have read the book. The Congress probably leaked out the juicy bits about the Emergency, which no one can do anything about instead of more current and relevant issues. Of course, it is history and history will mention such events. I would like to read about the anti-Sikh riots and see whether they have shown up those characters who continued to hold office until recently. I want to know if Rajiv Gandhi’s comment after his mother’s assassination is mentioned. I want to know if Rajiv-Longowal pact is mentioned. I want to know if the role of India with regard to the LTTE is mentioned.

The Congress does not even know who the writer is. At least that is what cross-over politician V.C.Shukla said.

“There are only views and thoughts of some leaders in the book. Actually, Indiraji had done a good job in her tenure.”

Great. Indira Gandhi gets a certificate from the man who was a Sanjay Gandhi loyalist, then stayed on to get the goodies, left a while ago to join the BJP and is now back in the Congress.

The BJP has its own take on the book:

“The party is personality dominated and there are differences on every issue. Whether it is the Maoist issue or other ones, the party lacks unanimity on issues.”

Yes. Now tell us why did Sushma Swaraj and Nitin Gadkari squabble yesterday? What were the dynamics in the relationship between L.K.Advani and A.B.Vajpayee? Why does the BJP play one game and let the RSS act as its boss?

This is just a book. If only all political parties would reveal what is between the lines of their own chapters and verses.

Post Mumbai - do we need an Emergency?

We did not need an Emergency in 1977. That was a drastic move by a power-hungry Indira Gandhi who wanted all Opposition to be silenced.

Now, the reasons are the breakdown of the whole system. This incident should remind us that North, South, East, West are all trouble areas.

The ruling alliance at the Centre is anyway not going to win the next elections, so it can declare a state of emergency and concentrate on beefing up security.

Right now every state is running its own show as it pleases. We need to be cohesive.

Muzzle the media for a while; this will make the terrorists feel helpless. If their bosses don’t see the success of the job being done, and it does not reach the international media, then it would be like conducting an orchestra within the confines of a sound-proof room.

Get all the Forces – the Army, Navy, Airforce – to work out a joint combing strategy.

Since most of our leaders get Z- plus security and are generally safe, get these same security people to train the rest.

The Opposition parties must be taken into confidence and a fixed date for elections announced together with the Emergency.

Every housing society or office complex must be made responsible for its own security that will be answerable to the local police chowkie; more chowkies are needed.

Citizen’s groups that have been talking big over their canapés should be asked to volunteer in the Territorial Army where they can get trained and then help out to patrol the cities.

Airports, sea routes, train stations should be high-security zones. (For example, travel to Sri Lanka and they check you at least a kilometre away from the airport, then twice or thrice inside and again before you board the aircraft.)

Pending civil cases in the courts must be expedited; criminal cases followed up; long-term undertrials given priority.

All public religious meetings/prayers must be stopped. Festivals that are celebrated in the street will have to be restricted. Places of worship should be instructed to take care of their own security and those of the worshippers. In the event of failure, the people in charge of the mosque, temple, church will be held culpable.

If some of us are considered irresponsible only because we ask questions, then let us go the whole hog.

I know there are many loopholes in this post and it is not even ethical. But at least it is suggesting something pro-active.

The Constitution does not allow it, but had it been possible one would propose that Narendra Modi be installed as acting Prime Minister – or give it some other name. Let us see how he manages. After all, when we shop for anything expensive we are given the option of trying it out and purchasing it on approval and then given a warranty.

It is time to treat our leaders as commodities. The age of ‘public servants’ acting like our masters is over.